Celebrity Backing Dancer and Choreographer "Valerie Lendore" Triumphs Despite Adversity!

Interview By: Gina Sedman

From Celebrity Backing Dancer to Choreographer in Demand. Valerie Lendore Triumphs Despite Adversity!  Valerie Lendore is a highly accomplished commercial dance teacher and choreographer with over 25 years of successful professional work experience in the field of performance arts. She has traveled the globe and danced professionally for many well-known and notable recording artists, including Destiny's Child, Cher, Robbie Williams, and Bjork.

Through her work as a commercial dancer, she has had the opportunity to perform at major televised events such as the MTV Music Awards, The Brit Awards, and the Echo Music Awards in Germany. Additionally, she has been a part of notable theatrical productions like "The Cotton Club Musical" and "Aida," which were held at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, UK.

I had the opportunity to speak with this amazing woman about her life as a dancer, choreographer, and a woman who has overcome multiple obstacles and has triumphed through them all. Here's what she shared with me.

It is a pleasure speaking with you today, Ms. Valerie! Can you tell me where you're originally from and where you currently reside? I was born in Bedfordshire, England. My parents are Caribbean, hailing from Jamaica and Grenada. Currently, I reside in the UK. Although I spend some time in Cyprus, my primary residency is in the UK. I grew up and received my education in this country as well.

Great! I'm interested in learning about life as a young adult in Bedford. As someone who grew up in America, I know there were a lot of fun activities to do in places like Los Angeles, with many options like going to the movies, Disneyland, Universal Studios, and more. But in Bedford, things seem smaller and quieter. So, what do young adults in Bedford do for fun? How did you occupy yourselves during your teenage years growing up in Bedford? Oh, my goodness! When I was young, we went to local cinemas and spots with weekend disco events. "The Town Centre" was the main attraction where everyone used to hang out. There were little places in town like roller disco areas and swimming pools. However, I wasn't much of a party person, as I was raised quite strictly. I spent most of my time dancing, and as a teenager, I just hung out with friends at their homes.

While I didn't enjoy being raised strictly as a child, I am grateful for the great moral values instilled in me and to which I still adhere. Furthermore, even though most of my peers were involved in activities that would not benefit their future, I achieved my goals and aspirations and became a respectable young lady. It turned out to be a great thing in the end. You have achieved a lot during your lifetime. Please introduce yourself to our readers who might not be familiar with you. Please share a little bit about yourself and your profession. Wow, that's an interesting question. Who am I? Well, first and foremost, I am a Christian woman who has been devoted to my faith. I have also been a dancer for most of my life. I am a positive person who enjoys being inspired and inspiring others.  

I have always had a soft spot for the underdog and try to help those less fortunate or struggling. My goal is to spread happiness and have fun in life. Overall, I have had a fantastic life of positivity, self-discovery, and personal growth. Many of my experiences have shaped me into who I am today, and I have been fortunate to be surrounded by a diverse and talented group of people.

You are an excellent and passionate dancer! How did your dance journey begin? Well, I first started dancing when I was just seven years old. I remember watching performances on TV and feeling captivated by it all. My mom noticed my interest and signed me up for a local dance school on my 8th birthday. 

 When I was much younger, I danced for fun, but then I stopped for a while. So, when my mom took me to the dance school on my birthday, I was expecting a surprise gift, but instead, she surprised me by signing me up for dance classes. (laughs) It was not the gift I expected, but I enjoyed it, nonetheless. As I continued attending classes, I realized that I loved and wanted to pursue dance. I was around 12 years old when I participated in a national competition.

That's fantastic! Can you share more about it? Well, a National Newspaper was searching for images of skilled young dancers. This was when the TV show "Fame" was on air, and I was such a big fan of the show that I would rush home from school to watch it. My mom submitted my photographs, and they sent someone to take professional photos of me for the newspaper. The images were then published in the National Newspaper, and the country was allowed to vote for the most promising young dancer. 

They also asked me to share a bit about myself and my childhood goals. As a result, I was chosen as one of the kids who would go to Hollywood at 12. This was my first time leaving the country, and boarding the plane was a big deal for me, as it marked the turning point in my dance career. I was full on. 

During my visit to Universal Studios and MGM Studios, I had the opportunity to meet many people and watch some live rehearsals. I also took pictures with Debbie Allen and the late Gene Anthony Ray, who sadly passed away. Overall, the whole experience was truly inspiring for me. 

What impact did that experience have on you internally?

Internally, the experience gave me a new sense of purpose and motivation. When I returned home, I realized that dance was what I wanted to pursue. That's how it all began for me at the young age of 12.

What changed when you returned to the UK, and what were your next steps? When I was younger, I dedicated myself to dancing. I worked tirelessly, learning ballet, modern, and tap dance and taking professional courses in other styles like National Ballet, singing, and drama. 

At 16, I auditioned for and was accepted into "The Urdang Academy," "The Urdang Academy" a school for ballet and theatre arts located in Covent Garden, London. It was an excellent experience because I was leaving my hometown of Bedford and meeting people from all over the country, including Yorkshire, Leeds, Scotland, and even different countries like Denmark and Norway.

I trained there for three years and graduated. During my time at the academy, I was fortunate to watch "Union Dance Company," a fantastic contemporary dance company, rehearse at our school. They would come in, and we would watch them through the windows, completely in awe of their talent.

Before I graduated, the director of the company I wanted to work for saw me and decided to take me on. As a young apprentice, I was thrilled and optimistic because I had not yet left college, but I already had a job with this company. However, it was daunting as the dancers were fantastic, and I had just finished my training with no prior experience. At that point, I only had the technical training but no expression or flair. I had the basics, the technique, and a good look, but I still had much to learn. Thankfully, they were terrific people to work with and learn from. So, that was my first job outside of college and I enjoyed it very much. 

We participated in numerous workshops and performances funded by the Arts Council. Moreover, we collaborated with local musicians and poets, making it a delightful experience.

Although it was a fantastic experience, I felt the need to move on. While I thoroughly enjoyed this opportunity and learned much from it, I realized I was still young and wanted to explore more commercial ventures.  A good friend informed me that the stage musical production of "The Cotton Club" which was running in Holland was going to be coming to the West End of London. After learning about auditions, I decided to try it out. Thanks to God, I got it! My involvement in that production lasted six months.

 That's great to hear! Please tell me more about it. The musical was directed by an American director named Billy Wilson, and it had a stellar cast consisting of American and UK actors. I was blessed to be part of the ensemble, and in addition to dancing, I also had speaking and singing parts. Overall, it was an incredible experience for me.

From that point, other opportunities were presented to you. Tell me about them. Yes, after that production, I joined the cast of "Aida" at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. From there, I decided to pursue commercial work in order to travel, see the world, earn more money, and work in television. Back then, I was accepted into multiple dance agencies and could book a lot of work through auditions, which pleased the agencies. During that time, I received more offers to work as a commercial backing dancer, eventually leading to opportunities to work with various artists. Most of them were 90s boy bands and some international artists. This period was quite busy as I did a lot of work and traveled.

Where are some of the places you traveled to? I've traveled to many places including India, Brazil, New Zealand, Dubai, Thailand, most of Europe, and China.

This is great! Which has been the most memorable among all the artists you've worked with? One of the highlights of my dance career was working with Destiny's Child. During that time their song "Independent Woman Part 1" was popular due to it being the soundtrack to the movie "Charlie's Angels", which was released that year. This was around the time Michelle Williams first joined the group. But, as a backing dancer, I had the opportunity to perform at major events such as the MTV Music Awards, The Brit Awards, and the Echo Music Awards in Germany. Performing in many production shows, traveling, and touring were all part of my lifestyle.

How old were you? During my 20s to early 30s, I lived a life that I couldn't have chosen better. It was a great experience that lasted for a long time. Dance has always been my passion and my everything. Despite facing numerous challenges and letdowns throughout my journey, I have gained a lot of strength and skill through those experiences.

Wow! You have a lot of great experiences. Who else have you worked for? I spent about 2-3 years touring with an artist named Peter Andre. Then, I decided I wanted to get into choreography. 

What challenges did you run into as a choreographer? Well, back then, it was difficult. You were hired by the choreographer, and it was very competitive. Deciding to move into choreography was quite a decision, there were just a few well-known choreographers that you would want to impress in the hope of getting booked. 

By moving over into choreography, you might be seen as a threat to those choreographers who would most likely no longer book you as a dancer. Unfortunately, that's just how it was back then on the UK dance scene.  

Although I was aware of the risk of not being hired as a dancer, I still pursued a career in choreography. It felt like a natural progression to me. So, I started working with record companies, working with artists unknown recently signed artists, in their development stages. 

Who was the first artist you worked with? I worked for a beautiful Italian socialite, Ana Bettz who was very keen to get a record deal in the UK. I landed that job through a tour manager friend.

She had a lot of money and paid well, so I hired some dancers, good friends of mine, and put together a showcase for her at the Cafe De Paris in London. I'm not sure if she ever got any deal, but the show went down really well. For my first choreography, it was a success.

Something happened that gave you a few setbacks. Tell me about it. After feeling unwell for about a year, my life took a turn. Since I had lots of energy at that time and was exercising constantly, I didn't know what was happening.  

At the time, I remember thinking, "I have never hurt myself or banged myself," Hence, I was perplexed as to why I would wake up from time to time with a sore knee or painful shoulder. 

However, I gave it little thought since this was a rare occurrence. Then, one day, my wrist started aching, and I thought I might have done something to it.

The situation lasted about a year, but then it began to worsen. It took several visits to the doctor to get an understanding of what was going on. It was assumed that I had anemia. It got to the point when I had to say, "Right, I need to slow down." So, I had to stop and investigate what was going on. After that, I was diagnosed with lupus.

My heart goes out to you because I, too, suffer from that illness. So, I understand what it feels like and all the challenges that come with that. I pray that God will bring healing and restoration to your body and help you to get through each day with joy and optimism because I know there are challenging days, especially for a dancer. What dance style do you specialize in and connect most with? I have always identified as a commercial dancer, deeply connected to theatrical and contemporary dance. My style is a fusion of theatrical and lyrical hip-hop.

 When I was diagnosed, I spent quite some time in hospital and was informed that I would not be able to dance for a very long time...blah blah blah. In my mind, I was thinking "I have no idea what this doctor is talking about, of course, I'm going to dance. 

I have the strength; I have the power, and this is not the end for me!" Shortly after my recovery an agent called me and said "Listen, there's a job going in Greece but it's not what you're used to. There is no contract, look at it as a working holiday. It's a fun job, but if you don't like it, just jump on a plane and come back.

But I had a fantastic experience in Greece that surpassed all my travels to different places worldwide. I spent three to four months there, and it was unforgettable. While chatting with some of the top dancers in Greece, I asked them where they went for their training. They told me they didn't have anyone besides one guy in Athens to teach them. That's when I decided to teach there. It was in the early 2000s, and hip-hop was gaining popularity, yet there were no teachers to teach it. Consequently, it was an excellent opportunity to step in and fill that void.

Although I was more of a commercial dancer and preferred jazz and theatre, I knew hip-hop and taught it. I wasn't a hardcore hip-hop dancer, but I learned enough to develop a teaching style and technique. I became known as a hip-hop teacher, though that wasn't my primary interest. I was passionate about contemporary dance and always incorporated technique and theatricals in my hip-hop classes. Also, I became the TV judge and choreographer for the reality show "Pop Stars (Greece)". Choreographed for the Eurovision Song Contest for Malta and wrote and directed my first Theatre show "HOMELESS" in Thessaloniki. In this period of my life, I had a lot of success.

What would you say? What would you say that dance does for you individually? It's life. This may sound corny, but it gives me life. It appeals to my creative side, and it brings out the absolute best in me. It keeps me grounded and incredibly happy. Also, movement and dance keep you fit and healthy. There's nothing better for your health. But, overall, I think it brings out all the best qualities in me. Dance appeals to every part of who I am. I love creating.

Wow, that's amazing! I love how you enjoy the creative aspect of dance and helping others achieve their best through it. Can you tell me what you get from helping others achieve their goals through dance? I think one of the greatest things for me was watching my students advance and become great. There's nothing better than that. Seeing that makes me feel as though I have achieved my purpose. I believe that I'm supposed to teach in some way or another. I've been told this many times over throughout the years. Many people would tell me that I was good at speaking to and bringing out the best in people. And I've always believed that I can make people do things that they never thought they possibly could in dance. 

When I see a shy individual who thought they could never do it becoming a choreographer making a name for themselves, It's a great feeling. Many times, I receive messages from ex-students thanking me so sincerely and informing me of their amazing achievements. It warms my heart. It's awesome, it's an awesome feeling. But what they don't realize is that they help me more than they can imagine. They have no idea how much they have helped me grow and how much I learned from them. It works both ways.

It's evident that you have a beautiful heart, and I'm sure that the people around you love you for it. Now, let's talk about the present moment. How has life been treating you? I continued teaching for a while, but my health hindered my performance. I hid it from my students to give them my best. I didn't want them to pity me or my issues. However, there came a point when I could no longer keep it a secret, and that's when I had to quit everything.

It can be very tough to let go of something you're passionate about. But I've learned that challenges and setbacks can sometimes lead to unexpected opportunities. In my life, I've experienced situations where I could not pursue specific paths due to obstacles. Still, in the end, those experiences redirected me toward a different purpose.

Often, people fixate on who they are and what they think they should do. If something happens to them, they feel like their lives are over. Depression or suicidal thoughts are even common among some people because their minds are stuck on that. Nevertheless, I have realized that God uses us for many purposes throughout our lives. Yeah, right. 

When we limit ourselves to only one thing we can do or love, we limit God in our lives. He can use us in so many ways, and those ways can also be a significant part of our identity. For instance, dancing may have been a part of your identity as a dancer, but helping others as a choreographer may be another part of who you are. Moreover, God has created us to do other things throughout our lives.

Ms. Valerie, I found this interview to be incredibly inspiring. It sheds a lot of insight into what goes on behind the scenes in dance, both amateur and professional. You took our readers on a fantastic journey of dreaming big and following through with those dreams. You also shared ways to press on despite adversity. Speaking with you was a true honor. In closing, could you share a few words of wisdom for aspiring dancers? My advice to anyone who wants to pursue dancing is to go for it and not be afraid. The rewards are great, and learning is a beautiful experience. However, it's essential to avoid getting too wrapped up in the business aspect of it, as this industry can be very ugly. Try to stay grounded and avoid unnecessary drama. Have faith in yourself and the Lord. Stay healthy and remember that your hard work will pay off. Don't be discouraged by setbacks; they are a natural part of the process. 

 Dancing can be highly competitive, but it can also be about sharing knowledge and experiences with others. And the best feeling comes from sharing what you have learned with others. Therefore, never put anyone down; always try to lift your fellow dancers up. Encourage them to work together and move forward with a healthy and strong mindset. Healthy competition can be enjoyable, but it is important to remember that having something to fall back on is smart. 

 Utilize the great qualities in every person you meet and know where you can go further to make positive strides. A dance career is one of the most rewarding careers you can have. I have loved it my entire life, and it is a great career to pursue. But remember to persevere, work hard, keep your focus, and know that good things will come of it. Even if you do not reach the top, you will have gathered many outstanding qualities. So go for it 100%!

It was a pleasure speaking with you; your words were remarkable and beautifully said. You are a blessing, and I pray that God's blessings continue to pour over your life. I do not doubt that your future will be greater than your past and that the Holy Spirit will lead you along the way. Whatever you choose, I know it will be amazing, powerful, and inspirational to many. Your journey is exciting, and I am thrilled to see where it will take you. Thank you, Gina.

It's my pleasure.

All photos of Valerie Lendore are courtesy of Valerie Lendore

https://www.facebook.com/valerie.lendore

END OF INTERVIEW